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Glite Dictionary
🎁 To give or allow ✅ To suit or fit
to beteem

to beteem

9.9
To be fitting for someone or something
  • verb
  • /bɪˈtiːm/
  • Archaic
translation icon : ser apropiado
  • The dress beteems her perfectly.

Examples

  • Such behavior does not beteem a person of your standing.

  • In old tales, it did not beteem knights to show fear in battle.

  • It would not beteem a wise leader to act out of anger.

  • This task does not beteem him well.

  • It would not beteem a wise leader to act out of anger.

  • Such behavior does not beteem a person of your standing.

  • In old tales, it did not beteem knights to show fear in battle.

Synonyms

to befit
vsto beteem
25 6.8

To be suitable for a person or situation

is plain suitability without implying worthiness or special merit
to beseem
vsto beteem
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To be suitable for a person or occasion

is archaic and not common in modern usage

Antonyms

inappropriate
354 3.7

Not right for a situation or event

unsuitable
20 2.6

Not right for a person, place, or purpose

How Suitable

to beteem
  • Archaic
9.9
to suit
303 1.9
fit
79 1.0

Surface Forms

beteem infinitive
beteemed past
beteemed past participle
beteeming present participle
beteems third person singular

Morphology

beteem = teem (opaque) = be + teem

While the word is historically analysable as be- + 'teem', the contemporary meaning of 'teem' is different from the sense 'be suitable/proper', so learners cannot deduce the meaning from the components.

Etymology

Beteem can also mean 'to be fitting' and breaks into be- plus teem. Think of be- as 'make' and teem as 'fit' or 'suit', so if something does not beteem you, it is not proper or suitable for you.